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March 29, 2024

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Blazers Week in Review

By Erik Gundersen, Columbian Trail Blazers Writer
Published: March 16, 2015, 12:00am

Blazer Beef

The Trail Blazers went 3-0 on the week and pulled themselves to within one game of the 2nd seed in the West. So there isn’t much to beef about. But they didn’t have a great close to their game against lowly Detroit, where they allowed 53 points, including a 32-point third quarter.

Blazer Bravos

The Blazers responded appropriately in two home games after a bad loss to the Western Conference-worst Minnesota Timberwolves.

They shut down Houston’s James Harden, a bonafide MVP candidate, who scored just 18 points.

Arron Afflalo and Nicolas Batum deserve a ton of credit as both players covered Harden throughout the game. The Blazers’ big men also protected the rim without fouling.

And of course, this section would be a waste if we couldn’t talk about Joel Freeland.

Freeland came to the aid of his teammate Meyers Leonard after Shawne Williams got in his face.

Freeland then returned the favor to Williams before Williams head butted him. Freeland responded with one of his own and both were ejected. Freeland was suspended for Sunday’s game against the Toronto Raptors.

But the Blazers showed some of their team chemistry once again and without Wesley Matthews in the mix, it was encouraging to see the Blazers still have some of that same fight.

By The Numbers

65.7

Meyers Leonard’s effective field goal percentage, which includes the value of 3-pointers. He leads the team among players that have taken at least 100 field goal attempts.

3

Although the Blazers don’t shoot a lot of free-throws, they have the third-best opponents’ free-throw-to-field-goal-attempt ratio.

1

Portland is one game behind the Memphis Grizzlies for 2nd in the West after Sunday’s win.

The Week Ahead

Monday at Washington Wizards (4 p.m., CSN): The Wizards have won three straight games after a month of bad basketball.

Wednesday at Miami Heat (4:30 p.m. CSN): Miami had a big splash at the trade deadline acquiring Goran Dragic and have a dangerous backcourt with Dwyane Wade, although Chris Bosh (blood clots) is out for the year.

Friday at Orlando (4:00 p.m., CSN): After firing head coach Jacque Vaughn, the Magic are still terrible.

Saturday at Memphis Grizzlies (5:00 p.m., CSN): Memphis is going for the sweep in the four game season series.

— Erik Gundersen

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Columbian Trail Blazers Writer